African Bat Conservation Species Guide to Bats of Malawi P a g e | 1

Emballonuridae Sheath-tailed bats

Taphozous mauritianus Mauritian tomb bat

Genus: Taphozous Family: Emballonuridae

Description Taphozous mauritianus is a medium to large sized bat with a mass of around 26g. The pelage is grizzled effect on the upper parts and pure white below. The grizzled effect on the back and head is due to the individual hairs being tricoloured with a brown base, grey middle and white tip. The wings are translucent and off-white, the muzzle is naked and the eyes are large for a microbat. A gular sac is present and pronounced in adult males, but reduced to a small fold of skin in females. Distribution Taphozous mauritianus is widespread in the eastern and northern parts of the region. It occurs from the Western and Eastern Cape, through KwaZulu-Natal, Swaziland and northern South Africa, to Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, central Mozambique, DRC and western Angola Ecology Diet Taphozous mauritianus are open air foragers that feed on flying prey high above the ground and far from vegetation. In Zimbabwe they have been discovered foraging at over 500 metres above ground! Reproduction In Malawi births are expected to occur in November–December and March–April. Roosting behaviour Taphozous mauritianus roosts in a variety of locations, including rock faces, tree trunks, and walls. It roost face-down, anchored by their hind claws, but with their belly, thumb claws and hind claws in contact with the surface of a tree or wall. Status Least concern

Reference Monadjem. A, T. P. (2010). Bats of Southern and Central Africa: A Biogeographic and Taxonomic Synthesis. Witts University Press.